NES plugin - a proposal

[stateq2]

FCEU seems like a good choice, even though it's massive.  Since it's based on nofrendo, there shouldn't really be many disadvantages over nofrendo, except I think that the comments in the CPU portions of nofrendo seem more informative.

Overall though, FCEU should be fine.  We are going to cut out a large portion that is unnecessary to us anyway.

I'm going to be busy this week (moving into the dorm, registration, etc), so I won't be able to get much done, but once I get settled I'll jump right back in

[ComposerDude]

stateq2: it's about the same thing for me this week.

As for fceu, the actual core is not as massive as the rest of the emulator. it is probably easier just to port the cpu code than to try to port the whole of the emulator.

peace out,
ComposerDude

[LambdaCalculus]

I honestly think that this is the best way to go right now. A few components from each emulator will help us out immensely.

ComposerDude: Keep in contact with me when you can. I'm going to keep going through the code for TuxNES and FCEU to see what can go and what can stay.

[crzyboyster]

hi, i was just wondering when exactly the first beta of an actual nes emulator for rockbox to come out? thanks a lot for taking your time for making rockbox even better!

[LambdaCalculus]

Allow me to repeat myself:

Good cooking takes time. If you are made to wait, it is to serve you better, and to please you. --Menu of Restaurant Antoine, New Orleans

[brarei200]

Do you need any help.. with this. I don't no C though So anything i can help with

[ComposerDude]

So, It's almost like I've been dead for over a month to the whole community ovr here. Gosh, I haven't really made any real progress with the emulator yet, either.

But, hey, I thought I'd at least let people know that in the midst of school and all the work involved with my lab job and a friends nervous breakdown, I'm still trying to work on TuxNES for the Rockbox.

At this point, I've kind of stalled everything but work and school, so I guess I'm not actively developing anything and have nothing but research to show for my work. In any case, I'm still very interested and devoted to making this port happen, so eventually I'll come back and in a very genius like way, get to say "Hey, we've made much progress!!!"  

Any of you guys, stateq2 and/or LambdaCalculus379, made any progress yet? (I've done very little coding on the sources, so there's nothing substantial to offer you)

Peace be with y'all,
ComposerDude

[LambdaCalculus]

Welcome back, fellow traveller!

I'm in the same boat as you. I've had to focus on work and personal life for now, and I have very little to offer right now. I'm also trying to get some work done on researching the Dell Digital Jukebox for a possible port.

I really want to see this port happen, too. But seeing as how real life is overshadowing me, progress will be slow.

[cool_walking_]

I thought you guys should know that MikeT has started on a port of InfoNES (GPL) up here. Interesting stuff starts about 2/3 down the page, as it was a "please make a NES emulator" thread that he hijacked.

[criznach]

The InfoNES port mentioned above is actually running on several platforms and might be worth a look.  I think InfoNES is GPL, but I don't read Japanese.  Can anyone confirm?  It's running slowly on my ipod 5.5g, but I'm looking at some quick ipod-specific loop optimizations to see if I can put a dent in the speed problem.  It requires a couple of tweaks to build for ipod, and a couple of others to run on the sim, but nothing too bad...  I was going to look into doing some profiling tonight, but I'm kinda new to rockbox dev, so I don't expect instant success.

[cool_walking_]

I think InfoNES is GPL, but I don't read Japanese.

Neither do I, but I made the (relatively safe, I think) assumption that docs/GPL2 wasn't just for show (going by the source archives at what appears to be the official site).  

[LambdaCalculus]

If it isn't GPL, it's not going to be allowed into the source. I hope everyone's clear on that.

ComposerDude and I made the choice of TuxNES and FCE Ultra because those are definitely GPL, and it's stated about as obvious as a monsoon that they are. Plus, TuxNES is lightweight, clean, nicely commented, and the code is easy to go through. FCE Ultra will fill in the blanks for TuxNES by offering mapping and sound support.

I've done a little bit of work trying to code TuxNES for Rockbox, but so far there's nothing to show that's worthwhile; I can just make a black screen, and that's it.

Back to XEmacs I go...

[cool_walking_]

Yeah I know about the GPL thing.  I'm 99% sure it's GPL'd. There is a file docs/GPL2 (obviously containing the text of the GPL v2) in the tarball. It could be some cruel japanese practical joke though.

vi > emacs

Though I prefer kate...

[LambdaCalculus]

It could be some cruel japanese practical joke though.

You know Richard Stallman doesn't joke about the GPL. He has the katana to prove it.

vi > emacs

Though I prefer kate...

My laptop, my choice of distro (Kubuntu), and my choice of text edior.

More work on the plugin to be done, it seems...

[ComposerDude]

I think the essence of what is being done is not in a spirit of competition, but the core of all things open source is a spirit of choice; the choice of licensure, the choice of method, the choice of product, the choice to do better. What we're working on here I think has less to do with must we do it, but can we do it, and can it be done to the best of what we are able.

InfoNES, being japanese... hahaha. I'm kidding about that.

The purpose of this project isn't "I want another emulator." I started asking about this because I wanted to work on my coding skills, I wanted to relieve the core devs of some of the flack from people wanting to game, and I wanted to offer something that may add back into rockbox dev someday.

And then interest peaked, and people came together to make this 'we', because those who are interested are that way mainly because of the goals of Rockbox. Making a better sounding DAP.

Enjoy your coffee, fellow travellers, and peace out.
ComposerDude